Cotton-chopper



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

0. SANDEL.

COTTON CHOPPER.

No. 326,791. Patented Sept. 22, 1885.

.dttorngz N. PETERS PmwLnho n ner. Wnmn ton. D. C.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

- O. SANDEL.

COTTON CHOPPER.

No, 326,791. Patented Sept. 22, 1885.

"LL I N. PETERS. Phowulm m mr. Washington. D. C.

Attorney UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CALEB SANDEL, OF CAMPTI, LOUISIANA.

COTTON-CHOPPER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 326,791, dated September 2 1885.

Application filed November 6, 1884.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CALEB SANDEL, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Gampti, in the parish of Natchitoches and State of Louisiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cotton-Choppers; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description oi the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it'appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to Cultivators and chop pers intended more especially for cotton, and therefore will be termed a cotton-chopper, although it may be used for other purposes.

The invention has for its object to simplify the construction and reduce the cost of pro duction of such implements, and also to increase the efficiency ofthe same, the construction being such that the cutters will chop as fast as the horse drawing the machine will travel, and that the cutters or choppers can be readily thrown out ofand into operation as and when desired; and for the accomplishment of the above ends the invention consists in the construction and the combination of parts hereinafter particularly described, and then specifically defined, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is aperspective of the chopper with part of one wheel and handle broken away; Fig. 2, a plan of the chopper; Fig. 3, a vertical longitudinal section through the same, showing the sleeve to the draft-pole sectioned.

In the drawings, the letter A designates a frame made ofwood,metal, or other similar material formed with eyes 13, through which the axle 0 passes and revolves, and secured atits front cross-bar, A, by means of a loop, bolts, or other means to adraftpole, D, which, back of said front cross-bar, is round in form, and connected at its rear end by means of a collar, E, to the axle O, the said collar being free to turn on the axle, and having a finger or bar, F, extending backward therefrom.

On the rounded portion of the poleD there is fitted a sleeve or tubular shank, G, having secured thereto a series of cutters or choppers, H, and provided at its rear end with a beveli (X0 model.)

gear, I, which meshes with a bevel-gear, I, feathered by a key, a, to the axle O. The gear I is thrown into and out of mesh with gear I by means of a clutcharm, J, straddlingacollar, b, of the gear I, and secured at its upper end to a lever, K, pivoted or bolted at one end to the handle L, and formed with a tooth on its under side, which engages with a series of teeth, 0, on the cross-bar M, which connects the two handles L together and braces them. The lever K may be held down to its place by means of a strap, (1, secured to the cross-bar above its teeth.

The handles L are secured at their forward ends to the cross-bar A of the frame A, and are supported between their ends by means of a standard, N, connected at one end to the cross-bar M, and at the other end to the finger or bar F, which forms a support therefor.

The standard may be simply a single arm, if desired, but is illustrated as formed of two arms, which is the preferred form, one of the arms being broken away so as to better show the gears.

By hinging the frame which carries the ban dies, and also the rear support of the choppers, to the axle, as shown, the frame and choppers can be easily raised and lowered, together with the tongue or draft-pole.

To the front cross-bar of the frame A there are secured, by bolts or other means, thestandards O, which have secured to their lower ends the scrapers P, which are to scrape the opposite sides of the hill. The cross-bar A and the standards 0 are formed with a series of holes, 6 and f, so that the scrapers may be adjusted laterally and vertically, as may be desired.

The wheels Q are secured rigidly to the axle 0, so that they both turn together, and are beveled on their inner faces, as shown, so as to run over the earth smoothed by the scrapers, so that the machine will run more evenly or smoothly and the work of the hoes or choppers will be more regular.

By placing the choppers in front of the axle, as shown, and constructing the parts so that the frame, scrapers, and choppers can be raised and lowered together, they are brought under complete control of the attendant and a more satisfactory operation is secured.

In operation the scrapers scrape the sides of the hill, the choppers cut or thin out the stand where itis necessary to be done, and the wheels run upon the earth smoothed by the scrapers, so as to insure the easy running of the machine and regular cutting of the choppers. YVhen the stand is too thin to be cut, the lever is grasped and moved to one side, so as to throw the two gears out of mesh, in which position the lever will be held by the ratchet-teeth on the cross-bar and the machine continues to move on without the choppers operating.

The device is simple, strong, and durable in construction, efficient in operation, and cheap of manufacture.

Having described my invention and set forth its merits, what I claim is,

1. The combination of the beveled Wheels, the frame hinged to the axle and carrying the scrapers at its forward end, the sleeve carrying the choppers, and provided with the gearwheel and supported between the axle and scrapers, the support for said sleeve next to the axle being connected to the axle by a loose collar, E, the bevel-gear feathered to the axle, I and the clutch and lever for moving said gear I into and out of mesh with the gear on the chopper-sleeve, substantially as and for the purpose described. i

2. The combination of the pole, the axle and its wheels, the collar connecting the pole and axle and provided with the extending arm, the hinged frame carrying the scrapers, the handles secured to the frame and connected together by the cross-bar, and the standard connected to said crossbar and resting on the arm of the collar surrounding the axle, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. The combination of the axle and its wheels, the frame hinged to the axle and carrying the scrapers at its forward end, the pole having a hinged connection with the axle and connected to the said frame, the sleeve provided with the choppers and beveled gear and supported by a pole between the axle and scrapers, the bevelgears feathered to the axle, the handles connected to the frame, and'the lever connected with a clutch for moving the feathered gear intoand out of mesh with the chopper-sleeve gear, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimonywhereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses. 1

CALEB SANDEL.

W itnesses:

J. D. HYAMS, F. LUOHINI. 

